South east bus users ‘most likely to get social’

Travel news

Published:12:19Sunday 17 April 2016

Bus users in the south east are most likely to start getting social when they get on-board, according to a recent survey.

Arriva Buses’ survey, which aimed to find out more about people’s commuter habits, showed 58 per cent would use their free-time while travelling to catch-up with friends and followers on social channels, while half took the opportunity to check their emails.

However, perhaps most interestingly, was the interaction passengers frequently enjoyed with fellow travellers that they’d never met before, with over half indulging in either a spot of eavesdropping or people-watching, and 63 per cent admitting to helping out total strangers.

Simon Baxter, regional marketing director, from Arriva Southern Counties, explained: “With free WiFi available on many of our buses, and 59 percent of passengers using it regularly, we weren’t surprised to find out that people took the opportunity to go online and keep in-touch during their journeys.

“But what we didn’t perhaps realise was the comradery people felt with their fellow commuters.

“Forty-one per cent of those asked said they’ve managed put a smile on the face of someone they didn’t know, and 33 per cent have even made new friends, which just goes to show what a lovely sociable community we’ve built on our buses.”

Not having to worry about parking (50 per cent), and getting more time to themselves (43 per cent), were the main reasons people chose to travel by bus in the south east, whilst many also noted it gave them the chance to appreciate their surroundings more (43 per cent), and was more affordable than alternative options (52 per cent).

The costs associated with fuelling a car and parking, along with traffic and complex inner-city road networks all ranked amongst the reasons to choose bus over car for frequent journeys.

“Bus travel is easier now than it ever has been before with our host of handy tools designed to make hopping on and off even more accessible,” continued Simon.

“Seventy-three per cent of the passengers we spoke to already use the Arriva Bus app or the webpage to plan journeys or check where their bus is, and 47 percent chose to buy their tickets though our m-ticket app, all of which aids to make bus travel hassle-free, particularly in comparison to using the car, which can often prove stressful and costly.

“With these tools at your fingertips, along with on-board features such as WiFi and comfier seating, there really has never been a better time to trial bus travel.”